tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26145735.post8243576366897328852..comments2024-03-28T03:32:52.949-07:00Comments on unapologetic conjecture: Democrats are wrong and Republicans are stupid?Benjamin Gormanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15690290533167718706noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26145735.post-38551680611766155242008-10-27T08:13:00.000-07:002008-10-27T08:13:00.000-07:00I won't say this near as eloquently as you did, so...I won't say this near as eloquently as you did, so bear with me. I think a large part of the problem is that we tend to hang around people who think and believe similarly with ourselves, so that when we hear the "other" side via the media we feel free to rant disrespectfully about people’s ideas when those people are not around. Like your recent visit with Republican friends, I work around many people who disagree with me about a number of things (religion, politics, our jobs), but we seem to manage to have respectful discourse, b/c we are in close proximity and have to recognize one another as intelligent adults. By and large, if people are forced to argue face to face, intelligent folks won’t devolve into name calling. At a certain point, most of our belief systems reach a faith point, where we just believe what we believe regardless of any level of inconsistency, hypocrisy, or intelligent argument otherwise; the trick is to have that respectful disagreement on an intellectual level so you can understand where that point is. Once you get there in a respectful discussion, it’s much easier to understand where the “other” is coming from, and move on based upon whatever commonalities exist. - BillAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26145735.post-68433449600747653602008-10-26T19:19:00.000-07:002008-10-26T19:19:00.000-07:00Definitely. We know Obama is the Messiah, yet the...Definitely. We know Obama is the Messiah, yet there is that one time he made a mistake...Jed Carosaarihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10775889983099808362noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26145735.post-30099567926800956222008-10-26T19:17:00.000-07:002008-10-26T19:17:00.000-07:00A lot of Dems I know think that Republicans - pret...A lot of Dems I know think that Republicans - pretty much anyone who lives in the center of the country - are stupid. Partially because, as you laid out, there is so much contradiction in the conservative platform. But I'm sure that a critical eye could pick out a few progressive contradictions as well.laurenjhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10216481075409054490noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26145735.post-24039428279350588772008-10-26T10:49:00.000-07:002008-10-26T10:49:00.000-07:00My quibble with your arguement, and it is a small ...My quibble with your arguement, and it is a small one, is that Americans cannot "rediscover a different definition of respect." We would be discovering such respect anew. Fear-mongering and race-baiting are as old and fundemental to the republic as elections. A major political realignment, however, might allow progressives to stop cowering in the corner the way they have for most of the last 28 years.joel.hobsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00408995999465164166noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26145735.post-12106256064663384192008-10-26T07:23:00.000-07:002008-10-26T07:23:00.000-07:00Oh, Ben, I don't think you're unpatriotic at all! ...Oh, Ben, I don't think you're unpatriotic at all! But unless you religiously follow the signature song of "Meaning of Life", I'd have to seriously affirm the 2nd appellation...Jed Carosaarihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10775889983099808362noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26145735.post-67912877627285088232008-10-26T01:57:00.000-07:002008-10-26T01:57:00.000-07:00I'll bet you pinkos like programs like Social Secu...I'll bet you pinkos like programs like Social Security, too. Wimps! What, can't stand the sight of the elderly freezing to death in the winter, or starving to death in the streets? See, you don't have the spine to live in the Real America.<BR/><BR/>Seriously, tonight I hung out with some friends who are Republicans, and intelligent people I respect. They never once made me feel like an unpatriotic baby-killer. So maybe there's hope for us all.Benjamin Gormanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15690290533167718706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26145735.post-31806577659092270312008-10-25T13:17:00.000-07:002008-10-25T13:17:00.000-07:00Well, said, Ben! It really is a shame that politic...Well, said, Ben! It really is a shame that political discourse isn't more respectful. We get so damn distracted from the issues, and to whose detriment?! Our own! It seems that if conversations were really pointed, critical and mutually respectful, then we'd make much more progress as a nation. Besides, how is it that we're "promoting" democracy abroad when ours is so f'ed up in this regard? You know, so many people are voting, but they're voting without delving into the issues and their respective ramifications. As you said, people vote against their own interests. I mean, what does it say about our democracy (and our citizenry) when people's votes are based upon lies after lies? (Oh, and what's with socialism being so demonized? I mean, understand how communism, in practice, has been a dismal failure in some places like Ethiopia, Cuba,..,but socialism? I feel like I need to learn more because socialism has its benefits. I mean, I would say I'm part socialist in that I support universal health care and other sorts of programs that help people in need. Am I evil?Katyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14408011080137478837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26145735.post-66358741965582367742008-10-25T07:43:00.000-07:002008-10-25T07:43:00.000-07:00I'd go further, and say the irony is there's nothi...I'd go further, and say the irony is there's nothing wrong with many Republican allegations. It's an honor to be called unpatriotic, as that means we're putting Kingdom First. It's an honor to be labeled a socialist, as that means we are putting into practice some of the Early Church, and are desiring to serve and help the least of these.Jed Carosaarihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10775889983099808362noreply@blogger.com